FAQ

Continuing Competence

How can I set goals if I don’t know what opportunities I will have to attend courses or what activities will be available this year?

The purpose of goal setting is to reflect on your practice and identify areas you wish to focus on. The goals you set should reflect your own professional development. Once you have set your goals you can then identify the learning activities best suited for your goal. Reading journals or accessing technology should allow you the opportunity to meet a portion of your goal each year.

Your goals may change in a year (you change jobs or caseloads). The new goals and the supporting information would then be included on the following year’s Accomplishment Statement sheets. Work on a goal may carry over from one year to the next. The important part is that work continues on a goal or a new goal is set.

How will information be kept confidential?

The College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) has developed a procedure to ensure the confidentiality of information.

I am going on a personal leave this year and have been sent a notice that I have been randomly selected to participate in the Continuing Competence Program (CPP). What do I do?

The College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) recognizes that, occasionally due to unavoidable circumstances, you may need to ask us to defer. This may be for numerous reasons (as a result of illness, family circumstances, or maternity leave).

To request the deferral, write to us and ask for a deferral explaining your reasons for why you cannot participate. We will review your situation to see whether it is fair to you, and to others chosen that year to defer. If you defer, you will automatically be chosen when your registration is next renewed.

Our deferral process will make sure, as far as possible, that although we are fair to those who cannot participate, we are still being fair to those who do participate. If you need to apply for a deferral more than once, we will check your application carefully and will look for clear evidence that a deferral is absolutely necessary.

I am planning to return to work during the middle of this year. Will I be expected to participate in the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) immediately?

No. The CPP is linked to yearly renewal of registration. You will be required to participate in the CPP at the next renewal cycle.

I have transferred from another province. Will I be expected to participate in the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) immediately?

No. The CCP is linked to yearly renewal of registration. You will be required to participate in the CPP at the next renewal cycle.

I only work part-time; will I be required to complete the same amount of continuing professional development as a full-time employee?

All registrants irrespective of whether they work on a full-time, part-time, permanent or casual basis are required to participate in the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) if they wish to remain registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM). The onus is on the individual to select which continuing professional development activities best suits them and will allow them to meet the standards of the program

Is it mandatory that I complete the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) every year?

What do I send to the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) on an annual basis?

Only those registrants who are randomly selected are notified to submit specific documents to CPM.

What happens if the physiotherapist refuses to participate?

Participation in the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) may affect your ability to renew your registration with the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM).

What happens when physiotherapists’ Learning Plan Goal sheets are reviewed?

A random, number of registered physiotherapists will be selected to submit their Learning Goals every year. Using standardized criteria, their goals will be reviewed as either:

A Complete Submission or Meets Requirements – the member will be notified and no further action is required

An Incomplete Submission or Does Not Meet Requirements.

In the future the member will be notified that they have 30 days to resubmit their goal. The resubmitted goal will be reviewed.

All members whose forms continue to be an Incomplete Submission will be required to come in and consult with the Coordinator of the Continuing Competence Program for assistance in completion of their forms.

Where do I get more information?

Contact the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) at (204) 287-8502 or revisit our website for updates.

Why did the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) not choose a point system or Continuing Education credit (CE credit) unit system?

First, while members can be forced by registration renewal requirements to participate in education, they cannot be made to learn or apply learning to practice. Second, members may select programs that are unrelated to their practice. Third, formal education activities may be inaccessible to members because of cost and/or geographic issues. Fourth, programs that meet learning needs may not be available. Finally, there is a lack of conclusive evidence that mandatory continuing education is an effective means of maintaining or increasing competence. Mandatory continuing education should be considered as an approach to encourage professional development/ongoing learning but not as a direct measure on continuing competence (National Framework for Assuring the Continuing Competence of Physiotherapists in Canada 2000)

Why do practicing physiotherapists have to do this when the employer already evaluates their competence? And why has the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) introduced a Continuing Competency Program (CCP) now?

The Regulated Health Professions Act requires all regulated health professionals such as CPM to establish and maintain a CCP to promote and sustain high standards of practice amongst registrants. In order to maintain our self-regulated status under the new legislation it is imperative that CPM develop a CCP.

Why was this type of program chosen? How does the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) propose to assess competence in Physiotherapists with this type of Program?

CPM has chosen a program which supports a physiotherapists efforts to demonstrate continuing competence through maintaining a professional portfolio, goal setting, and continuing education rather than a Quality Assurance Program whereby a physiotherapist would be required to prove his/her competence by undertaking a comprehensive written exam every few years (as done in another province).

It is widely accepted that a single tool that provides reliable, valid, and cost-effective measure of clinical competence does not exist, therefore a combination of evaluation methods is needed. A review of other colleges and disciplines reveals similar programs in place or to be launched across Canada.